The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-06-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
(NY Our Regular Correspondent.

Washington, May 2Sth, 1887
Since last wrote YOU the much
discussed National Drill has been
formally opened and has passed
through various riciSsitudcS, al
ready. 1t has been visited by ter
rifle rain storms on several success
siVe evenings, accompanied by cy-
clones which forobnro to perform
any more serious antics than the
smashing up of the apparatus con-
nected with the Pyorama, the car
rying away Of tents and their con
tents from the camp ground, the
unroofiIg Of the spectators grand
stand, and many others Of q SINH
lar character.
Despite all these discouragcmeEts
the Drill is still progressing in n
fairly creditable II Every
morning the Pyorama and the
soldiers and the spectators come
up smiling for the programme Of
the day, as if there vas nothing Sc
rious about n cyclone, and the spec
tacle proceeds. The city is so full
Of soldiers and strangers that n
is forcibly reminded of Inaugura-
ton times. Bands play, buglcs call,
the shrill fife is heard, and drums
beat all day long. The lively men
aro doing n rushing business and
making the streets as lively u pos
siblc. Carriages, landaus, herdics,
cabs, tandem teams, jaggers, bug
giles, in short, every available Con
vcyance is in demand by the visit
ing s~ightsecrs. The bicycle and
tricycle. dcpots too are entirely be-
ref of machines, many of the sol
dicr boys taking advantage of this
method oflocomotiOn while s%ojour-
ming in the whcelman's paradise.
They arc perfectly enthuscd with
its miles and miles of broad asphalt
pavement, where never so mucn as
u gravel comes in contact with
their wheels.
The most brilliant day Of the Drill
was Wednesday, when the troops
in fun dress parade were reviewed
by the President. The people turn
ed out en- masse and literally over
flowed tho streets along the line of
march. Business vas temporarily
suspended along the route and bus
mess people joiued the throng of
sight-seers.''The President occupied
a flag draped stand erected on Penn
sylvania avenue in front of the
White House, and he was surroun-
dcd by the Governors Of several
States with their stats, some Of the
Cabinet officers, and n few other
prominent people. General Sheriff
dan Wa there, also Mrs Cleveland,
who was, a. usual, the cynosurc OF
Of ali eyes.
General AuGur, tho Comman-
dant of tho camp, rode at the head
Of the procession, surrounded by
his STATS, all mounted, and rccciv-
ed marked recognition from the
stand. The Stuart Horse Guards,
of Richmond, came next ut the head
Of the Virginia brigade. Governor
Lee was proud ofthe showing made
by his State, and from his place on
the stand applauded the soldiers
heartily. Must Of the unifoi ms
were Respondent, while the Com
mandant wore n suit Of dark blue
with black cord trimmings and q
plain white helmet. Not a private
soldier In the parade had n uniform
half so plain and simple as his.
While the marching was for the
most part good, there invaribly APP
pearod a waver in the line Just when
the soldiers passed the Presto entail
stand and would have like to show
to the best advantage. This was
attributed to the desire of men to
get n good look at the President
and his pretty wife about whom
they had heard SO much. Many a
side glance was cast up into the
grand stand Mt the expense of good
form. 1t became necessary to
change the style Of march, and Sow
e-al halts were made in conse-
qucncc. Each time the order, pa
rade rest, was given, the soldiers
In the vicinity Of tho stand turned
about and kept thei" eyes fixed up
on the Presidential party until they
were orcrcd to march again.
The services Of the camp hospi,
tai have been I'm constant demand
since the beginning ofthc Encamp-
ment. Every day dozens of the
lads--far from hOme-nGed treat,
mcnt, prescriptions and nursing Of
some kind. Thus far most Of the
patients who have been brought
In have been overcome by the heat
when on parade. These amature
warriors are unused to military
hardships, and guard duty at night
III the rain Is an experience new to
most Of them.
The hospital is in charge Of the
Red Cross Society, and Miss Clara
Barton, lis president, is the presid-
ing genius Of the place, Just as tho
Commandments flag WAS paiSed at